Protect Your iPhone from Drops with a Spring-Loaded “Airbag”

If you’re like me, you’ve dropped your phone before. Every time my phone slips through my fingers my stomach drops and there’s a moment of sheer terror as I wait for the phone to hit the ground! If you were wondering…yes, I’ve cracked my screen.

There might be a solution to this ongoing crisis of smartphone screen homicide: the Active Damping Case.

ADcase is a brilliant new device designed by Philip Frenzel, a student at Aalen University in Germany. The prototype earned Frenzel the top award from the German Society for Mechatronics. The protective phone case has yet to enter production, but the promising design has earned a lot of media attention and the startup plans to launch a Kickstarter next month.

The high-tech case uses sensors to detect when your phone is falling through the air; the sensors trigger eight springs that unfold to absorb the shock of a sudden stop! ADcase provides 360-degree protection. The springs can then be pushed back inside the case and reused. A small battery provides power to the sensors and can be charged using a charger or a wireless station.

Even better, ADcase has a slim and unobtrusive design. We like OtterBox as much as the next guy, but it’s definitely not unobtrusive. Unfortunately, ADcase will only be available for iPhones. If you’re interested you can sign up for the ADcase Kickstarter.